"Hopefully the weather is as good as it was here today down in Featherston and I can make the most of my opportunities with the Magpies," Buckley added.
With captain and lock Phil McRoberts, inspirational Progressive Meats Havelock North produced a superb first-half effort, and with some tenacious defence did well to trail 14-8 at halftime.
But poor discipline, three sinbinnings included, and bad options in the second half proved to be their downfall.
Far too often the villagers played too much rugby in their red zone instead of kicking for territory, and while doing this they conceded cheap turnovers which resulted in tries.
Once again WIT Napier Old Boys Marist's support play was superb as they posted their 45th consecutive win and retained the Hawke's Bay Challenge Shield in the feature match of their club day.
Along with Buckley, blindside flanker Rickey Hayes and lock Matt Gardner were prominent for the Green Machine.
Centre Shota Takano and loosie Adam Bradey joined McRoberts as the best of the visitors. It was Takano's and classy halfback Toshi Amino's final game for the villagers before returning to Japan.
Taradale 20 Central 19
A last-second try saw Taradale Rugby and Sports take some of the gloss off Northfuels Central's club day with this victory at Waipukurau's Central Park.
"We're gutted with the loss but proud of the performance. It was a different team to the last game against Taradale ... there was so much belief out there today," Central manager Ian Large said, referring to his team's 95-0 loss to Taradale back in March.
Central did well to establish a 19-3 lead at halftime. Captain and lock Tom Parsons scored two tries and was named the player of the match.
Veteran winger Mark Donald scored the other try.
Blindside flanker Jason Cutbush, in his 50th and blazer game for the hosts, and No 8 Warwick Slingsby, who has played more than 200 games, also made valuable contributions to a side with no passengers.
"It was an awesome game and fortunately we scored three quick tries to take it out and stand unbeaten in the Maddison Trophy round," said delighted Taradale manager Paul Wise.
Fullback Ashton Tuck had his best match of the season for the visitors. Centre Kaleb Whakataka and left-winger Wade Woolly were also enterprising in the winning backline.
Clive 46 Pirate 27
K9 Petfoods Clive spoiled Tanalised Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports club day celebrations with this win at Tamatea Park.
"It was just like last week. A disruptive and frustrating first half in which we missed too many tackles let us down," Pirate manager Charles Reid said.
Last season's runners-up Clive needed the victory to keep their faint semifinal hopes alive. Busy No 8 Cameron Smith and lock Rocky Pohatu were full of authority in the winning engine room.
Centre Jonah Lowe, who scored two tries, and second five-eighth Sasa Tofilau were a lethal pair in the Clive backline. Powerful tighthead prop Pouri Rakete-Stones set up two of the hosts' tries with quality carries and his New Zealand Universities teammate, openside flanker Damien Scott, also impressed in the Pirate pack.
Fullback Ted Symes was again the pick of the Pirate backs.
MAC 27 Tamatea 24
Jarks Tamatea head coach Matt Marsh was confused after this loss at the Hawke's Bay Regional Sports Park.
"We were robbed by some bizarre calls including three disallowed tries," Marsh said.
A last-minute penalty from fullback Tom Iosefo secured MAC the win. New openside flanker Solomone Funaki, who has replaced Chris Johnston in the Magpies side for today, had a huge workrate and loosehead prop Amiga Mikaele produced his best display of the season.
Former MAC kingpin Everard Reid had a solid shift at No 8 for Tamatea. Former MAC prop Mason Kean also impressed in the hosts' engine room while first five-eighth Lincoln McClutchie and second five-eighth David Neho combined well in the Tamatea backline.
Hastings 60 Tech 21
Auto Super Shoppe Hastings Rugby and Sports produced a polished rehearsal for this week's top-of-the-table clash against NOBM with this Whitmore Park victory.
Centre Timo Vaiusu, five-eighths Danny Toala and Ausage Fomai and winger Johnny Saifiti relished the high-tempo style from the visitors. Lock Jono Makris and substitute loosies Cole Eru and Danya Tulou were workaholics in the winning pack.
An injury-hit Altherm Window Systems Napier Technical side made a respectable comeback in the second spell but too much damage was done as Hastings established a 39-7 halftime lead. Lock Todd Cushing and loosies Elijah Martin and James Hughes shone with their never-say-die approach in the Texans pack.
